Family Structure
- Female carries her egg until it is within 1 to 2 days of hatching
- She deposits it in a sheltered area
- Average: female produces about five eggs (range 4-8), averaging 30-40 eggs (range 18-50) each
- Egg to adult: varies from 54 days to 215 days, with an average of about 103 days
- Under lab conditions with a room temperature of 80 degrees F/27 degrees C and 40% relative humidity, only 50-60 days were required. This means one female could raise an average of 3 to 4 generations per year, but in warmer conditions, up to 6
- Lifespan: 100-200 days (range 1-303)
- Colonies are typically composed of at least 75% nymphs
Appearance
- Adults: approximately 1/2″ to 5/8″ (13-16 mm) long
- Light brown to tan except for two dark, almost parallel longitudinal stripes on the first segment of the thorax
- Female darker color than male; broader abdomen as well
- Nymphs: dark brown to black thorax with pale boundaries between the three sections of the thorax
- Dark stripe located near each border
- Eggs: Yellowish brown but usually two colors
- Females have a paler end than the males
- Eggs: approximately 1/4″ to 3/8” (6-9 mm) long, approximately twice as long as they are wide
Characteristics
- Rarely glide or “fly”
Where Found
- Worldwide
Habitat
- Prefer warm (70 degrees F/21 degrees C) and humid places
- Often found in kitchens and bathrooms
- Infestations often occur in rooms where people eat as they watch TV (media room, bedroom, den)
- Love cracks or wood joints located near food and water
- Spend about 75% of their time in damp climates
- To make entry, nymphs need about 1/32″ (1 mm); adults need about 3/16″ (5 mm) in width
- Most commonly brought into buildings in something made of cardboard or secondhand appliances
- Have been seen moving move from one building to another on occasion when it is warm
- Although uncommon, they can survive outdoors during the warm months
Diet
- Feed on almost anything edible, including toothpaste and soaps and glue!
Characteristics
- Activity periods vary with age and physical condition
- Reproducing females are quite active
- Females who have mated are inactive beginning about five days after mating
- Males spend most of their time in one place
- Nymphs become immobile as they prepare to molt
Contact Us
Contact us for help with a German Cockroach problem. You may also call either our Central Coast office or our Ventura County office.
